Romania’s president to be reinstated

Romania’s suspended president would be reinstated, after a supreme court ruling on the 21 August 2012 likely to reignite a power struggle with the prime minister that had raised international concerns over the democratic stability of one of the EU’s newest members.

The chief judge of Romania’s Constitutional Court said that despite an overwhelming majority voting to impeach Traian Basescu in the July 2012 referendum, the poll was invalid because fewer than 50% of registered voters participated.

ESO: Background information: Judges caught in Romania power struggle http://www.europeansources.info/record/judges-caught-in-romania-power-struggle/

BBC News, 21.8.12: Traian Basescu: Romanian impeachment vote ruled invalid http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19332259

Spiegel Online International, 21.8.12: Romanian Court Returns President to Office http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/basescu-remains-president-as-romanian-court-strikes-down-referendum-a-851317.html

EUObserver, 21.8.12: Romania court rules to reinstate President Basescu http://euobserver.com/justice/117292

France24, 21.8.12: Trian Basescu reinstated as Romania's president http://www.france24.com/en/20120821-romania-president-set-return-after-impeachment-ruling-basescu

EurActiv, 21.8.12: Romanian court clears way for Băsescu return http://www.euractiv.com/elections/romania-court-reinstalls-basescu-news-514375

European Commission: Memo/12/626: Commission's reaction to the Romanian Constitutional Court's decision on 29/07 referendum http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/626&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Adevărul / Jurnalul Naţional / VoxPublica.ro, 22.8.12: Constitutional court reinstates President Traian Băsescu (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/2557911-constitutional-court-reinstates-president-traian-basescu

Deutsche Welle, 22.8.12: Romanian power struggle is far from over http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16183059,00.html

EurActiv, 30.8.12: European Socialists' congress may shun Romania http://www.euractiv.com/elections/pes-move-congress-away-bucharest-news-514516

European Commission: RAPID: MEMO/12/668: Statement following the meeting between President Barroso and President Băsescu http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/12/668&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/12/378: Remarks following the meeting of President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy with President of Romania, Traian Basescu http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PRES/12/378&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

EurActiv, 16.11.12: Romania threatens to veto EU's long-term budget http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/romania-mulls-veto-eu-budget-pro-news-516098

BBC News, 07.10.13: Romania deputy PM Liviu Dragnea faces vote fraud charge http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24437209

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